H.C.C.C.

A detail of the installation shows my handmade glass rain and lasercut, hand- sewn plant forms

Houston, Texas has surpassed my expectations by light years. I worked all week to install Inverted Harmonies at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft. In my mind, the working title is, "Why Are We Fighting When We're On the Same Team?" This installation is the biggest thing that I have ever made, aside from building rooms in warehouses. The support from the center has been so incredibly thorough and generous. I have to especially thank Anna Walker for EVERYTHING! I am ineffably grateful to Anna, Randall Dorn, and Ashley Powell for their invaluable help, & to Kerry Inman and Nyala Wright for their generous hospitality.

Photo by Anna Walker

As I hung plant forms I rearranged the platforms of the scaffold to allow the pieces to hang, fully extended.

Here Anna Walker (r) and Ashley Powell (l) prepare strands of glass rain before I hang them.

Photo by Anna Walker

I spent months lampworking Pyrex to make lots of glass rain drops. It felt like it took forever to tie them all! Thanks to Dave Olsen for teaching me how to make a fisherman's knot, and for being so helpful to me.

This is the text that accompanies my installation:

The idea of "Man versus Nature" fails to acknowledge that humans are animals. Though we exist in the context of nature, we are distinct from other fauna in many obvious ways. We try to control nearly every other living thing around us, from pests to pets. In relating to everything only as something we can manipulate, we fail to view and understand the rest of life with true empathy.

Our impact on the natural world is currently disruptive and unbalancing in unprecedented ways. We are turning the world upside- down, but I believe in the resiliency of nature sans humans. If plants can grow through from underneath pavement, nature can eventually resolve much of the damage for which we have been responsible.

The most inspiring works I've witnessed have all been naturally- occurring ones. I aim to make things that reflect my respect and awe for the natural world, my quiet sadness for our uncertain future, and the paradox of humans trying to control and recreate nature in artwork that can only strive to be as beautiful as authentic life.

The screening of Handmade Nation at the Lawndale Art Center was packed beyond capacity, with people lining the walls and sitting on the floors. 225 people attended the film and 100 came to my artist talk! It was a lot of fun to meet everybody and talk with folks, so thank you if you were able to be there! Also, the What Cheer Brigade from Providence (the band in the bookbinding scene of Handmade Nation) will be playing at Super Happy Fun Land on March 10th!

Thanks also to Sarah Gabbart and Sew Crafty Houston for hosting my workshop on sewing ruffled textile forms and accessories, and thanks to everyone in the class!

Sarah, you're a gem!